BY SARA LINDAU: Staff Writer

Southern Pines merchants want to loosen town ordinances restricting outdoor displays and sign locations that help advertise their wares.

For years, the town’s ordinances have prohibited businesses from displaying merchandise outside their premises designed to lure passersby.

“We’ve written our share of letters warning certain specific businesses about the ordinance violation,” Southern Pines Planning Director Bart Nuckols said Tuesday.

Another ongoing problem has been large outdoor signs and banners placed to advertise some businesses. Nuckols is now proposing amendments to the existing ordinances to legalize some of the practices but still prevent interference with traffic.

“The proposed amendments are less restrictive,” Nuckols said.

The town has not been enforcing the ordinances by levying civil fines, because of more pressing matters for the town staff, he said.

The town Planning Board will hold a public hearing tonight at 7 o’clock in council chambers on the merchants’ request. The board will vote on whether to recommend that the Town Council approve or deny the proposal. The council makes the final decision at a later meeting of its own. The council will also hold a public hearing.

The Southern Pines Business Association is requesting a number of changes to the ordinance. They include:

n An addition to the Unified Development Ordinance allowing signs or banners in the Central Business District to be placed within 12 feet of the premises, if the sign does not interfere with vehicle or pedestrian traffic; if the sign is no larger than six square feet; and if the sign is removed when the premises are not open for business.

n An amendment to the UDO’s section covering the CB district to allow occupant of premises to display goods or merchandise outdoors, if the display is within 12 feet of the premises and does not interfere with pedestrian or vehicles’ movement; the display or displays don’t occupy more than 20 square feet and are no more than four feet high; and the displays are removed when the premises are not open for business.

Also on the public hearing agenda is a request from Archie and Ann Furr to rezone 1.91 acres from Residential Multi-Family to Office Service. The council turned them down on a previous request for rezoning to General Business, which allows a wide variety of uses.